Publications of John Overton

Note: The following printer, bookseller, or publisher lists are works in progress. They are generated from title page imprints and may reproduce false and misleading attributions or contain errors.

What does "printed by" mean? How to read the roles ascribed to people in the imprints.

In terms of the book trades, the lists below are sorted into up to four groups where: the person is designated in the imprint as having a single role:

  1. "printed by x"; or
  2. "sold by x"; or
  3. "printed for x" or "published by x";

or as having multiple roles in combination (which suggests a likelihood that the person is a trade publisher):

  1. "printed and sold by x"; "printed: and sold by x"; "printed for and sold by x"; or "printed by and for x" and so on.

On this last point, trade publishers such as Mary Cooper appeared in imprints as having "printed" or "published" the work, though they did not own the copyright. The lists below reflect only the information on the imprint, except where ESTC provides extra information.

Printers (owners of the type and printing presses, and possibly owners of the copyright) may be identified by the words printed by, but printed by does not universally designate a person who is a printer by trade. Booksellers may be identified by the words sold by, but sold by encompasses a number of roles. Booksellers or individuals who owned the copyright are generally identified by the words printed for, but nothing should be concluded in this regard without further evidence, especially since "printed for" could signify that the named person was a distributor rather than a copyright holder. Trade publishers, who distributed books and pamphlets but did not own the copyright or employ a printer—and were not printers themselves—might be identified by the words printed and sold by. Furthermore, works from this period often display false imprints, whether to evade copyright restrictions, to conceal the name of the copyright holders, or to dupe unwitting customers. Ultimately, one must proceed with caution in using the following lists: designations in the imprints may not reliably reflect the actual trades or roles of the people named, and the formulas used in imprints do not consistently mean the same thing.

David Foxon discussed the "meaning of the imprint" in his Lyell Lecture delivered at Oxford in March 1976, with particular attention to "publishers" in the eighteenth-century context:

The fullest form of an imprint is one which names three people, or groups of people:
     London: printed by X (the printer), for Y (the bookseller who owned the copyright), and sold by Z.
In the eighteenth century the printer's name is rarely given, at least in works printed in London, and the form is more commonly:
     London: printed for Y, and sold by Z.
Very often in this period, and particularly for pamphlets, it is further abbreviated to:
     London: printed and sold by Z.
It is this last form which is my present concern. Z is usually what the eighteenth century called 'a publisher', or one who distributes books and pamphlets without having any other responsibility—he does not own the copyright or employ a printer, or even know the author.

He cautions, "The only way to avoid being misled is to regard any imprint which says a book is printed for a publisher as meaning it is sold by him" (5).

D. F. McKenzie coined the term "trade publisher" for these publishers in his Sandars Lectures, also in 1976, on the grounds that their principal role was to publish on behalf of other members of the book trade (Treadwell 100).

Michael Treadwell cautions that "In this period the imprint 'London: Printed and sold by A.B.' normally means 'Printed at London, and sold by A.B.' and must not be taken to mean that A.B. is a printer in the absence of other evidence." Further, "The imprint 'published by' occurs only rarely in Wing and is almost always associated with the name of a trade publisher" (104). While there are exceptions to the rule, it is "certain," he explains, "that anyone who made a speciality of distributing works for others will show a far higher proportion than normal of imprints in one of the 'sold by' forms" (116), which appear in the imprint as "sold by," "printed and sold by," or "published by" (104). Treadwell gives Walter Kettilby as an example of "a fairly typical copyright-owning bookseller" (106)—his role is almost always designated by the phrase "printed for" on imprints.

A final caution: publisher is a word that should be used with some deliberation. Samuel Johnson defines it simply as "One who puts out a book into the world," but "published by" rarely appears on the imprint until later in the eighteenth century, and then primarily associated with newspapers and pamphlets. Treadwell observes that John Dunton names only five publishers among the 200 binders and booksellers in his autobiographical Life and Errors (1705) wherein he undertakes "to draw the Character of the most Eminent [Stationers] in the Three Kingdoms" (100). Treadwell also remarks, however, that "in law, anyone who offered a work for sale 'published' it. In this sense every work had one or more 'publishers', and every bookseller, mercury, and hawker was a 'publisher'" (114).

See:

  • Terry Belanger, "From Bookseller to Publisher: Changes in the London Book Trade, 1750–1850," in Book Selling and Book Buying. Aspects of the Nineteenth-Century British and North American Book Trade, ed. Richard G. Landon (Chicago: American Library Association, 1978).
  • Bricker, Andrew Benjamin. "Who was 'A. Moore'? The Attribution of Eighteenth-Century Publications with False and Misleading Imprints," in The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 110.2 (2016).
  • John Dunton, The Life and Errors of John Dunton (London: Printed for S. Malthus, 1705).
  • John Feather, "The Commerce of Letters: The Study of the Eighteenth-Century Book Trade," Eighteenth-Century Studies 17 (1984).
  • David Foxon, Pope and the Early Eighteenth-Century Book Trade, ed. James McLaverty (Oxford University Press, 1991).
  • Samuel Johnson, Dictionary of the English Language, (printed for J. and P. Knapton; T. and T. Longman; C. Hitch and L. Hawes; A. Millar; and R. and J. Dodsley, 1755).
  • D.F. McKenzie, The London Book Trade in the Later Seventeenth Century (Sandars lectures in bibliography, 1977).
  • Michael Treadwell, "London Trade Publishers 1675–1750," The Library sixth series, vol. 4, no. 2 (1982).

Printed by John Overton

  • Blum, Hans. A description of the five orders of columnes and tearms of architecture according to the ancient use and best rules of the most eminent Italian architects, viz. the Tuscan, Dorick, Ionick, Corinthian and composite. Drawn and described (with great care and diligence) afte the right symmetry and measure of Free Masons by Hans Bloome. For the use and benefit of Free Masons, carpenters, joyners, carvers, painters, bricklayers; in general, for all that are concerned in the famous art of building. London: Printed by William Fisher and John Overton, 1668. ESTC No. S122425. Grub Street ID 141971.
  • A description of the city of London. The metropolis of Great Britain. Shewing the antiquity, scituation, customs and many other things worthy of observation, and also the alterations that are now made for the greater convenience of passage and beautifying of the city. London]: Printed by John Overton at the White-horse, without New-gate, where you may have all sorts of maps, large and small, blank bonds, copy books, books of architecture, French and Dutch prints; and all sorts of birds, beasts, flowers, and phantasies coloured neatly for gentlewomens works, and all other things of that nature, [1676. ESTC No. R171747. Grub Street ID 65863.

Sold by John Overton

  • Cocker, Edward. The youth's direction to write without a teacher all the usefull hands of England. Invented, written, and engraven by Edward Cocker. [London]: Are to be sold by John Overton at the White Horse without Newgate, at ye corner of ye little old Baily, 1652. ESTC No. R7952. Grub Street ID 128161.
  • Hodder, James. The pen-mans recreation: or A copy-book nevvly published, vvherein is contained variety of all the most curious hands now practised in this nation: with choice and excellent rules to attain them: also hovv to make the best pens and good ink. Invented and written by James Hodder master in the art of writing and teaching. London]: Are to be sold by John Overton, at the White-Horse in Little-Brittain, near the Hospital-Gate. Copy books and maps, printed and sold by Iohn Overton. Billinsley, in large quarto and Octavo. Davis, intituled the School-master; and Cockers, intituled Arts glory, o the Pens treasury: Mr. Johnsons Coppy book, with some additions to it, by Edward Cocker: 4 other sorts of coppy-books; and maps of the world, England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with other county maps, pourtratures and descriptions of the kings of England in one sheet: also several famous maps of the city of London, before and since the fire, 1667. ESTC No. R178072. Grub Street ID 69951.
  • E. G, Serjeant at Arms.. A description of the island and city of Candia. By E.G. Serjeant at Arms. London?]: Sold by John Overton at the White Horse in Little Britain where you may have the best choise of all sorts of pictures, copy-books, and maps, large and small, 1668. ESTC No. R11426. Grub Street ID 59714.
  • The English military discipline. Exactly described by copper cutts, in forty eight postures of the musquet and thirty six of the pike. With instructions for all young souldiers, and such who are disposed to learn and have knowledge of the military discipline. Wherein, ar set down the conditions and qualities which are required in every several officer of a private company, and the maner of drawing up of companies and placing them in battail rank. London]: Sold by John Overton at the White Horse without Newgate, where you may have the best choice of all sorts of maps, .., 1672. ESTC No. R17166. Grub Street ID 65817.
  • Hodder, James. The pen-mans recreation: or A copy-book nevvly published, vvherein is contained variety of all the most curious hands now practised in this nation: with choice and excellent rules to attain them: also hovv to make the best pens and good ink. Invented and written by James Hodder master in hte [sic] art of writing and teaching engraven by Edward Cocker. London]: Are to be sould by John Overton at the White Horse without Newgate; where you may have all sorts of copy books and maps, viz, Billingsley, in large quarto and octavo. Davis, intituled the School,master [sic]; and Cockers, intituled Arts glory, or the pens treasury. Mr. Johnsons Copy book, with some additions to it, by Edward Cocker: 4 other sorts of copy books; and maps of the world, England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, with other county, maps pourtratures and descriptions of the King of England in the sheet: also several famous maps of the City of London, before and since the fire, a new map of the royall exchange as it is now rebuilt a new map of the Low Contryes [sic], with a larg [sic] description of Holland and the places taken by the French, 1673. ESTC No. R178073. Grub Street ID 69952.
  • The manner of the killing Pensionary de Witt, and his brother Ruwart van Putten in the Hague, the 20th of August 1672. The sentence of the Court of Holland and West-Friesland, against Mr. Cornelis de Wit, antient Burger-Master of the Town of Dort, pronounced the 20 August, 1672. London]: Sold by John Overton at the White Horse without Newgate, and Dorman Newman in the Poultrey, 1673. ESTC No. R180289. Grub Street ID 71393.

Printed for John Overton

  • Fage, Robert. Cosmography: or, A description of the whole world, represented (by a more exact and certain discovery) in the excellencies of its scituation, commodities, inhabitants, and history: of their particular and distinct governments, religions, arms, and degrees of honour used amongst them. Enlarged with very many and rare additions. Very delightful to be read in so small a volum. By Robert Fage Esquire. London: printed by S. Griffin for John Overton at the White-Horse in Little Brittain, next door to little St. Bartholomews-Gate, 1666. ESTC No. R218244. Grub Street ID 92932.
  • Centum fabulae. London By S. Griffin for John Overton 1666. ESTC No. R176913. Grub Street ID 375692.
  • Fage, Robert. Cosmography or, a description of the whole world, represented (by a more exact and certain discovery) in the excellencies of its scituation, commodities, inhabitants, and history: of their particular and distinct governments, religions, arms, and degrees of honour used amongst them. Enlarged with very many and rare additions. Very delightful to be read in so small a volum. By Robert Fage Esquire. London: printed by S. Griffin for John Overton at the White-Horse in Little Brittain, next door to little St. Bartholomews-Gate, 1667. ESTC No. R222645. Grub Street ID 96598.
  • Fage, Robert. Cosmographie or, A description of the whole world, represented (by a more exact and certain discovery) in the excellencies of its scituation, commodities, inhabitants, and history: of their particular and distinct governments, religions, arms, and degrees of honour used among them. Enlarged with very many and rare additions. Very delightful to be read in so small a volum. By Robert Page Esquire. London: by H[enry]. B[rugis]. for Iohn Overton at the White-Horse without Newgate, at the corner of the Little Old Bayly, near the Foundtain Tavern, 1671. ESTC No. R176915. Grub Street ID 69241.
  • Adrichem, Christiaan van. A description and explanation of two hundred sixty and eight places in Jerusalem and the suburbs thereof as it flourished in the time of Jesus Christ. Answerable to the same figures that are engraven in the map thereof. London: printed for John Overton at the white Horse without newgate, [1677]. ESTC No. R230088. Grub Street ID 102465.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by John Overton

  • Arts glory: or, The pen-mans treasury. Containing various examples of secretary, text, Roman, and Italian hands. Adorned with many curious knots and flourishes, to render them pleasant as well as profitable. With directions, theorems, and rare principles of art, comprehending very much of the authors knowledge wholly invented, written, and engraven, by Edward Cocker. London: printed for, and are to be sold, with other of the authors works, by John Overton, at the White-horse in Little-Brittain, next door to Little. S. Bartholomews-Gate, 1666. ESTC No. R475230. Grub Street ID 370256.
  • Johnson, J, Master of writing. The vvriting school-master, or, The anatomy of fair writing wherein is exactly expressed each several character, together with other rules and documents coincident to the art of fair and speedy writing by J. Johnson, Master in vvriting. London: Printed by S. Griffin for John Overton, and sold by him at his house ..., 1667. ESTC No. R43661. Grub Street ID 124572.
  • Davies, John. The writing school-master. Or the anotomy of fair vvriting. Wherein is exactly expressed each several character; together with other rules and documents coincident to the art of fair and speedy vvriting. By John Davis of Hereford. London: printed by H[enry]. Brugis for John Overton and are to be sold at the White Horse, [1670?]. ESTC No. R175911. Grub Street ID 68634.
  • P., F.. Sinnes discovery by the emblem of a toad. London: printed for John Overton, and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the White-Horse without New-Gate, 1673. ESTC No. R213214. Grub Street ID 88714.
  • Cocker, Edward. England's pen-man or, Cocker's new copy-book. Containing all the curious hands practised in England, ... Written, and engraven by Edward Cocker. London: printed and sold by John Overton, 1703. ESTC No. N43248. Grub Street ID 29083.